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American prosperity pastor Creflo Dollar wants 65 million dollars so that he can buy one of the most luxurious private jets there is: the Gulfstream G650. Dollar asks 200 000 people to give “at least” 300 dollars each so that he can buy this thing without wasting his own money, but thankfully this has caused a lot of criticism from other charismatics. J Lee Grady at Charisma Magazine writes:

The Bible calls us to be good stewards of God’s resources. Private aircraft cost an exorbitant amount of money compared to commercial flights because the owners must provide service and upkeep on the vehicles. If a preacher insists on renting a private jet, the cost to fly from Fort Lauderdale to New York would be in the ballpark of $59,000, compared to a $652 ticket on a commercial plane. People who own private jets spend as much as $4 million a year just on maintenance.

Oxfam argues that the severity if the cyclone was strengthened by climate change, and points to the fact that these natural disasters will be more common and aggressive due to our greenhouse gas pollution. The über-consumption, meat-eating, car-driving and private jet-flying of the rich world is destroying God’s creation and the lives of the poor. How rude!

Jesus presents another way: a way of simplicity and generosity. He didn’t fly any Gulfstream jets; He rode a donkey or simply walked. He didn’t tell His followers to be rich; He told us to sell all that we have and give the money to the poor. He calls us to serve the needy and destitute, not to wobble in luxury and superfluities.

‘Cause even if you don’t buy a jet, Vanuatu needs your money now more than that movie or piece of clothing does. Support UNICEF or Christian Aid and their relief work. Thank you!

[…] Bill Johnson, however, preaches a certain kind of prosperity theology. Certainly not as clear and extravagant like Benny Hinn. But in Malmö, he held a seminar called Prosperity of the Soul which he talked about that we should all ask God to become rich. He has supported the idea that rich should just get richer on his Facebook page, and he has had a disturbing image of a Gulfstream G650 private jet as a background picture (the same sort of jet that Creflo Dollar wanted 85 million dollars to buy) […]